8 Is Enough

They carried the team, then they carried each other at the end of Game 4, embracing unabashedly on the sideline before the cameras and the world.

On Wednesday, through four bristling quarters and into an operatic overtime, it was all about those two titans, journeying to the brink of a championship.

Shaquille O’Neal, the most valuable player, and Kobe Bryant, the most electric presence in the game, shared credit, shared the ball, and shared responsibility for one of the most meaningful performances in recent Laker history.

It was a game for the ages, and a victory for Laker lore, a 120-118 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers before 18,345 at Conseco Fieldhouse that gave the Lakers a 3-1 NBA finals lead, bringing them within one victory of their first championship in a dozen years.

When it was at last over, when Reggie Miller’s three-point shot tinked off the front rim and the Lakers jumped for joy as the buzzer sounded, the longer, harder quest was almost over too.

“We got the win we wanted to get,” said O’Neal, who scored 36 points and grabbed 21 rebounds before fouling out with 2:33 left in overtime.

“We realized that we let one slip away the other day [in Game 3] and we made a conscious effort to come in here and get this one tonight. That’s all we talked about in practice yesterday. That’s all we talked about in shoot-around today. That’s all we talked about on the bus, was getting this one right here.

“We did that, and now we have an opportunity to get uno mas on Friday.”

The Lakers can win the championship in Game 5 on Friday at Conseco.

The difference in this game was that the Lakers had uno mas superstar than they had in Game 3, which Bryant sat out because of a sprained left ankle.

This time, when O’Neal fouled out, the fate of the team was turned over to Bryant at this pivotal moment.

And Bryant, who still hobbled noticeably and didn’t care, was ready.

He scored 28 points, made all four of his shots in overtime, including the over-his-head two-handed follow of a Brian Shaw miss with 5.9 seconds left that ended up as the winning margin.

“We pretty much knew Kobe was going to take this game over,” guard Derek Fisher said.

“When the Big Fella fouled out, that’s when Kobe carried us on his back,” forward Rick Fox said, “like Shaq has done all season.”

Said Bryant: “Well, when Shaq went out, my thought was, you know, this game just became a lot more interesting than it was a couple of seconds ago.”

It was O’Neal who pulled the team together before the overtime period--after he missed a rushed shot at the regulation buzzer--and roared to his teammates that they were about to play the most important five minutes of their lives.

“Right before overtime,” Shaw said, “Shaq called us together and said, ‘This is it. This is the best chance we’re going to have to obtain that ring. Don’t leave anything on the floor.’ ”

They had just fended off a crackling run by Indiana in the fourth quarter, and had fought off Sam Perkins’ huge three-pointer to tie it with 35.8 seconds left in regulation.

In the midst of it, O’Neal made two foul shots, and made 10 of 17 in the game.

Then, despite O’Neal fouling out, the Lakers scored on every one of their eight possessions in overtime.

“We felt like spectators out there in overtime,” Shaw said of Bryant. “We were pretty much standing and watching him do what he does best.”

Robert Horry scored the first two baskets, O’Neal the third, Bryant back-to-back jumpers, and then an offensive-rebound put-back by Shaw of a Glen Rice airball (“Glen missed it perfectly,” Shaw said) and Bryant’s ultimate follow.

“We almost played a picture-perfect game, with Shaq shooting very well from the free-throw line,” Coach Phil Jackson said. “We know it’s going to take another effort like that to close this out on Friday, if we possibly can get it.”

Said O’Neal: “I fouled out, Kobe took over.”

Indiana failed to score only twice in overtime--their first possession (a turnover by Rik Smits, forced by O’Neal), and the last, when Miller’s three-pointer went high because of Horry’s lunging effort to block it.

“It felt good,” said Miller, who scored 35 points. “I think what distracted me was when Robert Horry was running at me. I had to shoot it over his hand.”

Said Horry: “Everybody knew it was going to Reggie. I just tried to run at him and make it tough for him.”

The only reason Indiana had a chance to win with that shot was a freak away-from-the-ball call on Fox before the inbounds play, which gave Miller a free throw, which he made, to cut the lead to two points.

But, as they have all season, the Lakers survived, to live another day, and maybe only one more.

“That shot was up in the air for a long, long time,” Rice said of Miller’s shot.

It was only the last piece of a tantalizing game.

“They played a helluva game tonight,” Shaw said, “and for us to be able to pull it out at the end like we did, it will really take a lot out of them.”

In one blistering, two-minute stretch in the fourth quarter, the teams scored on six consecutive possessions--making six consecutive shots--matching an O’Neal jump hook with a Miller flying reverse lay-up, a Miller three-pointer with a Derek Fisher bomb, and by the end of it, Indiana held a tight, 98-97 lead, with 3:45 left to play.

After Miller’s three-pointer gave Indiana a 101-99 lead with 3:18 left, the Laker defense suddenly slammed the door shut.

The Pacers missed five consecutive shots, O’Neal made two free throws (out of four), Bryant made a 15-foot fade-away, and Horry made one of two free throws, which gave the Lakers a 104-101 lead with 44.8 seconds left.

With O’Neal protecting the middle as Travis Best dribbled near midcourt, Perkins was left wide open for a three-pointer with 35.8 seconds remaining to tie it, 104-104.

Then Horry threw the ball away, Best missed a fall-away with 2.3 seconds left and O’Neal missed a hurried seven-footer as time was running out to send it to overtime.

Said Miller: “Right now, we’re definitely behind the eight-ball. But there’s a little bit of a pulse left.”

Said Jackson: “They have to beat us three in a row to win. That’s what the situation really says now. Their back is now against the wall officially.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

A Star Turn

Kobe Bryant’s vital statistics from Game 4:

*--*

OT GAME 5 Minutes 47 8 Points 28 4-5 FG-FGA 14-27 1 Rebounds 4 0 Turnovers 3 0 Assists 5 0 Steals 1

*--*

THE SERIES

Lakers lead, 3-1

* Game 1: Lakers 104, Indiana 87

* Game 2: Lakers 111, Indiana 104

* Game 3: Indiana 100, Lakers 91

* Game 4: Lakers 120, Indiana 118 (OT)

* Friday at Indiana, 6 p.m.

* Monday at Staples Center, 6 p.m.-x

* Wed. at Staples Center, 6 p.m.-x

x-if necessary. All times Pacific.

All games on Channel 4

By The Numbers

Teams that have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win NBA finals: 0

Times this season that Shaquille O’Neal has fouled out: 3

Laker record in games Shaq has fauled out: 3-0

O’Neal at free-throw line: 10-17

Points for Kobe Bryant in second half (including OT): 22

Falling Off the Pace

The Pacers scored on only two of seven possessions down the stretch of regulation. Laker possessions are in italic type:

* 3:18--Miller makes three-pointer (101-99, Pacers)

* 2:53--O’Neal makes one of two free throws (101-100, Pacers)

* 2:29--Perkins misses three-pointer

* 2:17--O’Neal misses two free throws

* 1:52--Pacer commit shot-clock violation

* 1:39--Bryant makes jumper (102-101, Lakers)

* 1:18--Miller misses jumper

* 1:02--O’Neal makes one of two free throws (103-101, Lakers)

* 46.9--Rose misses jumper

* 44.8--Horry makes one of two free throws (104-101, Lakers)

* 35.8--Perkins makes three-pointer (104-104)

* 17.4--Horry bad pass turnover

* 2.3--Best misses jumper

* 0.0--O’Neal misses hook shot